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http://www.thechartotfepost com c Section CI)arlotte $0£(t SPORTS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2006 Former J.C. Smith assistant off to NFL Chicago Bears name West Charlotte grad Wilks DBs coach By Herbert L, White herb.whiieA thecharloOepoxiiCtm Steve ^^Iks has graduated fi*om college football assistant coach to the NFL’s Chicago Bears. Wilks, a Charlotte native and former West Charlotte High standout, was named the Bears’ defensive backs coach, replacing Perry Fewefl, who left to become the Buffalo Bills’ defensive coordinator “It feels great,” WUks, 36, said. “It’s a great opportu nity going to the NFL. It’s a great oi^anization with an outstanding coach. Lovie Smith is one of the best in the business.” W^lks, who got his coaching start at Johnson C. Smith as defensive coordina tor in 1995-96, spent the last two seasons at the University of Washington as defen sive backs coach. He followed head coach Tyrone Willingham to Seattle from Notre Dame, where he coached one season. Chicago is Wlks’ ninth coaching assign ment, his first in the NFL. ‘Tm very proud of Steve and what he’s been able to accomplish in a short time,” said JCSU coach Daryl McNeill, who gave Wilks his first coaching job. “Growing up in a coaching family, I saw a lot of intangibles in him fixim the firet day I met him to know he’s very special and first of all he’s a person who can coach the game of football.” At JCSU, Wilks helped the Golden Bulls to a 7-3 record in 1996, Smith’s best Please see WILKS/2C nation’s fastest schoolboy at 60 METERS Wilks PHOTOS/CURTIS WILSON West Charlotte High’s Trenton Guy Jr understands expectations will go up for him after winning the 60 meters at the Carolina Invitational earlier this month. "I think people will start looking at me differently now, because I don’t normally win big meets like that,” he says. Lions’ go-to Guy West Charlotte's Trenton Guy Jr. on pace to run among elite U S. sprinters West Charlotte High’s Trenton Guy Jr. is the nation’s fastest schoolboy in the 60 meters. By Eric Bozeman THE CHARlXnTE POST TVenton Guy Jr. is the fastest nigli sciiool splinter indoors in 2006. Gi ’’•'eb 4, the West Charlotte H’gh junior set the na lior al t ;ack scene on its ear by pxisting a time of 6.76 seconds in the 60 mecers at the Carolina Invitational for college t nd open oDmpetition. Guy alsT plaoid fifth in the 200 me cere with at clock ing of 22.19. 'ATi it happened after J thf'wmw PS as exciting as ^ the national-best time he t pristeci. “My start was just perfect, I got out and I didn’t look back,” Guy said.. “Afterwards everyone was going crazy and college coaches came up asking me what school I wanted to go to. I was kind of shocked. The grown men (he beat) gave me my props, they were shaking my hand. They did n’t even know I was a kid.” Guy’s time has also been posted on the Nike list of best perfor mances this season, but his goal is to put West Charlotte on the track map. He doesn’t want to get too carried away with individual success. The comparison between Guy and world class sprinters such as Maurice Greene, who ran a world best of 6.39 in the 60 meters in Madrid, Spain in 1998, aren’t far off ‘I’m just continuing the legacy that we have at West Chariotte. I think people will start looking at me differently now, because I don’t normally win big meets tike that, but I don’t want to sound too ccx:ky” Guy said. Performances like Guy’s don’t magically appear, they are har vested by years of grueling work outs, and a close knit group of people who care, like Guy’s father and sprint coach Trenton Sr. “He is finally at the point where he appreciates me training him, it’s a special relationship, but it’s ' See GUY/2C Stopping Shaw’s CIAA streak is Golden Bulls’ Mission: Impossible Taylor Coach Vanessa Taylor s Golden Bulls lead the CIM W^st. By Cheris F. Htxlges cfuhshodgesk ihecharloaepostrom Coming off an 86-58 rout of CIAA West Division foe St. Augustine’s, Johnson C. Smith’s women’s basketball is about to lock horns with the three-time CIAA cham pion Shaw. The Bears (21-4, 14-0 CIAA) are on a 70-game CIAA winning streak. Smith, the West leader at (17-7, 11-1 CIAA. 8-0 divi sion), is taking Saturday’s game as just another con test, not worrying about the streak. They tip off at 5:30 p.m. at Spaulding Gym in Raleigh. “I’m not looking at Shaw as any different than any other team,” said junior guard Brittany Sumpter, who aver ages 15 points per game. “I’ll give them their credit, they’re good but we have to continue playing our game.” Sihith’s game includes at least four different players that score in double figures each game. “We have more speed and more people in each position that can contribute,” said junior guard Tiana Pope, who had another 25 point out pouring against St. Aug’s. Statically, Shaw and JCSU Please see JCSU/2C Johnson C. Smith guard Judene Wright (3) and the Golden Bulls will try to snap Shaw’s 70- game confer ence winning streak Saturday. PHOTO/WADE NASH PHOTO CURTIS kMRTIN Charlotte Bobcats guard Raymond Felton isn’t fazed by being passed over for AIFStar Weekend activities. Felton won’t sweat All-Star snub reporters asked Felton about the snub, yelled “He should have been selected.” Felton responded: “It’s a situa tion where it didn’t happen. So what, whatever, life goes on, so I’m going home (to Latta, S.C.) to relax.” The first half the season has been a learning exp«ience for Felton and the Bobcats. In retro spect, Felton said “I learned a lot, all I have to do is to continue to get better and continue to woik harder.” Roland Han kins The CTiarlotte Bobcats starting rookie point guard; Raymond Felton got the 2006 all-star week end snub. The fifth overall selection has to deal with the lack of respect given to players playing on a losing team. Felton is the only rookie in the top 10 of the four major rook ie statistical categories, (points, assists, rebounds and blocks) per game. After the Bobcats’ loss to the Portland TVailblazers Monday, (Charlotte guard Alan Anderson, who was standing neaihy when AN EYE ON PANTHERS Alexander ready to play the NFL field if Seattle doesn’t work out By Jaymes Song THE ASSOCIAITD PRESS HONOLULU — Shaim Alexander may have Carolina on his mind. Alexander, who sat out the Pro Bowl on Simday because of a sprained right foot, said contract negotiatipns with the Seattle Seahawks will continue Monday But the NFLs Most Valuable Player said he’s open to playing elsewhere. “I never really thought up until I got out here that I could be on another team, but it was really neat to see me with Carolina guys and having fun like that,” he said following the NFC’s 23-17 victory over the AFC. “It was different, but it was definitely neat.” Several NFC teammates spent the past few days, half jokin^y wooing Alexander. He will become one of the league’s most coveted fiee agents if he doesn’t re-sigm with tile Seahawks before March 3.’ “Honestly, whatever happens, Tm going to be happy I’m going to be satisfied,” he said. “It is an exciting opportunity for me, having all these teams basically crane at me and sign me. That’s cool.” See ALEXANDER/2C Cox unfazed by Braves’ spring challenges By Charles Odum , THE .ASSOCHTFD PRESS ATLANTA — After winning 14 straight division championships, Bobby Ckjx is confident that spring training will provide solutions to the latest challenges facing his Atlanta Braves. When pitchers and catchers report to spring training Thursday in Kissimmee, Fla., followed by the rest of the team next week, most of the roster will be set. But the few holes are significant. The Braves need a new leadoff hitter and a closer, and they must adapt to new pitching coach Roger McDowell after having Leo Mazzone on tiie job for 15 years. After losing shortstop Rafael Furcal to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Braves have no obvious candi date to hit leadoff No problem, says Ckct. “Tve had all kind.g of years with no speed there,” Ckix said “Furcal was good, really good He was ideal. But teams can win without speedy guys at the front, that’s for sure. The possibilities for the spot include second baseman Marcus Giles, who has been the team’s No. 2 hitter, and Ryan Langeriians, assuming Langerhans beats out Kelly Johnson for the starting job in left field If Giles is the leadoff hitter, new shortstop Edgar Renteria likely will hit second Kyle Farnsworth signed to be a set-up man for the New York Yankees, leaving the Braves with Rease see COX/2C lOl
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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